Scrip-cutter.



A. H. ROBERTS.

sCRIP CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1912.

' Patented May 5, 1914.

W. fi

COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH 50.. WASHINGTON D c AUGUSTUS H. ROBERTS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SCRIE-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 12', 1912.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Serial No. 714,735.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS H. ROB- nn'rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Scrip-Cutter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for cutting, or facilitating the cutting, of scrip from scrip or mileage books, and the main object of the invention is to provide means for this purpose which can be used in cutting the scrip with the minimum of trouble and with great accuracy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scrip cutter which will form a permanent attachment to the book and does not have to be shifted in operation, and in this connection a further object of the invention is to provide a cutter of this character which can be easily and cheaply applied to the book and which will not materially increase the cost or dimensions of the book.

Scrip cutters heretofore proposed have failed to come into general use on account of the difiiculty of handling the same, expense of furnishing same, and the mutilation or special designing of the book which they involve, and one object of the present invention is to provide a scrip cutter which can be applied to the ordinary scrip book without mutilation or change of design thereof.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and referring thereto: Figure 1 is a perspective of the book, showing the cutter applied thereto and showing the scrip pushed beneath the cutter ready for the cutting operation. Fig. 2 is a perspective of a portion of the book, showing the cutter depressed for clamping the scrip and the scrip being torn 05. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the book and cutter. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the cutter. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the cutter in inverted position. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line ww in Fig. 3.

The cutter consists of a plate or strip 1, of suitable elastic material, for example, steel, said plate or strip having one end bent back or folded as shown at 2' to form a back portion 2, and being provided at the inner ends of said back portion with prongs or projections 3. The rear edge of the strip 1 is bent up or rolled as shown at 4, to facilitate the insertion of the scrip under the same, as hereinafter described.

In ahixing the cutter to the book, the loop or bend of the cutter is slipped over one edge of the back cover or member 5 of the book, the prongs '3 being bent up so as to penetrate the back member of the book and the loop or bend of the strip 1 being then forcibly compressed so as to cause the back member 5 ofthe book to be gripped between the back portion 2 of the strip and the body of the strip and to cause the prongs or projections 3 to be firmly set in the back por tion of the book. On removing the pressure from the cutter, the body portion thereof springs upwardly by reason by the elasticity of the metal, but the extreme end portion of the strip adjacent to the loop or bend 2 remains in tight contact with the back member 5 of the book and grips or attaches the cutter permanently to the book. The cutter is preferably attached in this manner at or near the outer end of the back member 5 of the book, so that the scrip, indicated at 7,

which is secured to the book at one end and is folded within the book between the back member 5 and the front cover 6 in the usual manner, lies between the cutter and the hinge or center portion 8 of the book, the cutter 1 lying directly over an exposed or bare portion of the back member 5, serving as a support for the scrip in the cutting operation.

In using the device, the free or outer end of the scrip is pushed beneath the cutter strip 1 as shown in Fig. 1, the elasticity of the cutter strip normally holding it above the back member 5 sufliciently to enable insertibn of the scrip in this manner and the upward bend or roll of the cutter strip at its cutting edge facilitating insertion of the scrip under the cutting strip. By then placing one thumb on the cutter strip, as shown in Fig. 2, it may be pressed down against the scrip and with the other hand the scrip is drawn to exact position required for stripping or cutting off the desired length thereof, and the cutter is then tightened by pressure of the thumb thereon and the portion beyond the cutter is then torn off.

When the book is folded or closed, the cutter strip does not interfere with the tight closure of the book as it yields sufliciently to enable the cover members to be brought close together.

What I claim is 1. A scrip cutter consisting of a strip of elastic material having one end bent back, said bent back portion being provided with prongs projecting toward the body of the strip to engage the back of the scrip book and hold the cutter in position thereon, the body of the strip extending at an acute angle to said bent back portion so as to tend to spring up from the back of the scrip book.

2. A scrip cutter consisting of a strip of elastic material having one end bent back at an acute angle to fit over the edge of the back of the scrip book, said bent back portion having means for securing it permanently to the said back of the scrip book and the body of said strip tending to spring up from the said back to permit of insertion of the scrip thereunder.

8. A scrip cutter adapted to be applied to a scrip book having a back cover and. having a flexible scrip movable longitudinally over the back cover, said scrip cutter consisting of a blade bent back at one end to embrace one edge of the back cover, and

provided at such bent back portion with means for positively engaging the back cover to permanently secure the scrip cutter in fixed position thereto, the other end of the cutter being free from the back cover to allow the scrip paper to be easily inserted between the blade and back cover.

extend transversely across and over the said scrip, the rear edge of said strip being bent up to facilitate insertion of the scrip beneath it.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 3rd day of August, 1912.

AUGUSTUS H. ROBERTS.

In presence of ARTHUR P. KNIGHT, MARY E. BLASDEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents. Washington, 11.6. 

